When discussing the issue of illegal immigration, it is important remember that the reason why it’s an issue, is because our government, under several administrations, decided not to enforce our immigration laws. It is obvious to me, that were these laws enforced, no fence or wall would have been necessary, since there would be no cause for coming to America illegally.
Indeed, if foreigners immigrating to our country illegally, could not find work, could not find shelter, could not access our health care, our banks, and the benefits of our laws, then the stark difficulties of living here uninvited would have been more discouraging than any wall, no matter how tall or well guarded it might have been.
After a great deal of thought and personal reflection, I do not believe that building a wall is a good idea. That wall would be nothing more than illusion, a ruse financed by our government to convince us that they are doing everything they can to prevent illegal immigration.
If our government was serious about dealing with America’s immigration problems, then they would enforce America’s immigration laws. No new legislation would be required. No tens of billion dollars poured down the drain in what would serve as the most expensive Public Relations fraud in United States history. The money spent on financing the construction of a wall would more than finance twenty years of law enforcement in this country.
If we agree, then, that without law enforcement, that the building of a wall along our southern border would be unprofitable, then the question remains how do we enforce our laws going forward? What do we do with the men, women, and children who have come here illegally?
While I do not believe that a single immigrant living in the United States deserves the right to live here, I do not believe that they and their American families are entirely to blame. If a parent tells their children to be home by nightfall, but do not enforce this requirement, the responsibility of whatever trouble ensues as a result of those children staying out all hours of the night is equally shared by the parents.
Republicans, in general, having taken offense to the entitlement of illegal immigrants, to their utter lack of respect for our laws, and to the trouble they’ve caused being here illegally, do not wish to hear any solution which does not end in throwing these immigrants off American soil. Proponents of amnesty, however, claim that to accomplish this would be impossible, so out of sheer pragmatism, we ought to let these immigrants stay.
The sentiment of the average Republican is certainly justified and the proponents of amnesty are disingenuous when they say removing all illegal immigrants from our territories is impossible. For less money than we spent on the Iraq War, we could round up and deport every illegal immigrant and their “citizen” children, under the threat of lawsuits. Our courts, however, do not respect the rule of law and are more than likely going to sustain the incorrect opinion that the 14th Amendment makes citizens of any child born on American shores.
We would not be successful deporting the children of illegal immigrants. The probability that this statement is accurate is so high that one could justifiably consider it to be a fact. Therefore, we must ask ourselves how we wish to proceed. We do not owe these illegal immigrants or there children anything. It is true that they have no respect for our nations’ laws or sovereignty, but in their defense, neither does our government.
Therefore, we must decide on a plausible path to dealing with present circumstances. If I am correct in assuming that the reason why we refuse to enforce our laws, is because we’ve made criminals of anywhere between 12 and 25 million human beings by inviting their invasion, then in order to put a stop to illegal immigration there must be put in place some process for dealing with the illegals already here.
Our politicians talk about “the back of the line” and having illegals “pay a fine”, though I am not certain this goes nearly far enough. The United States Congress has the constitutional authority to write our immigration laws and there is no reason why they cannot write a law specifying a category for immigrants illegally residing in our country. As such, our country can proceed however it likes in dealing with the rights and status of illegals.
I would begin by stationing border guards along every known and heavily traveled route used by illegal immigrants into the United States. I would simultaneously enforce every law on the books, while creating permanent VISA status for illegals. I would give citizenship to their children, but never to their parents. Their children would not receive citizenship until they are 18 years old.
Illegal Immigrants who wish to stay in America the moment our laws are enforced must pay extra taxes, regardless of their tax status as defined by our IRS Code for legal citizens of the United States. Parents of illegal immigrants would not only pay higher taxes, but they would not qualify for a singe financial aid program, other than their health care. Failure to register as an illegal immigrant occupying US Territories would necessitate deportation. If it is so important, to them, that they live here, this policy ought to be viewed as fair, compassionate, and just.
These higher taxes would be earmarked for three specific funds: Health Care, Prisons, and Education. Our hospitals, prisons, and our schools would be the sole benefactors of these taxes apportioned by registered populations and by State.
I am not concerned that these taxes would place the entire population of illegal immigrants into lifelong poverty. That would be the price they pay for breaking our laws. It would also be just, since they would be paying, essentially a proffer, for the cost of their being here.
Upon turning 18 or applying to an American University, children of illegals would be eligible for appropriate aid in accordance with the law, including Selective Service, so long as Selective Service still exists.
There is no doubt, that among my conservative brethren, such a plan would rightfully be considered amnesty. Since I have no real shot of running for office one day, I suppose I’ll take the risk of putting such a proposal on proverbial paper, as it were.
Our laws will never be enforced, so long as it means requiring our government to clean up its’ mess. We ought to move forward in accordance with this premise cemented in our minds, because if we don’t move forward now, our problems will only get worse.
6 comments
Yea, you do everything but go after the establishment employers who pay politicians not to enforce the law. And, you didn’t mention going after the employers who hire them.
You are starting to sound more and more like Radtke.
You articles are rapidly getting not worth reading.
A wall is a visible symbol of national intent. Already, we have nearly a thousand miles of it and where it is properly guarded, it is effective.
I note that Hungary has a barbwire fence that is actually manned by guards who will detained anyone who breaches it and then throw them back on the other side rather forcefully. The Hungarian fence costs very little and the guards are already part of their police/military force so no additional cost there.
We somehow seem to think of a wall such as the one surrounding the Vatican rather than a technological wall (whether low or high tech). We also think of the Berlin wall which was intended to keep people in rather than keep people out. It was not only cement and cinder block but barbwire and shoot to kill guards.
The people of this great nation ignored the economic consequences of abortion and birth control and did not consider that one day this nation would need immigrants for its survival. That’s the first problem. We are a nation of immigrants. Immigrants are a good thing. We should welcome immigrants through a good, strong, enforceable immigration policy. We should also have many children, love them, and see them as our future.
The second problem is, and you point it out, immigration laws have not been enforced. No one says anything about the people who are trying to get into the US legally. What have been the consequences to their trying to follow the law? Do they have to get in the back of line, wait longer, or are they just eliminated from consideration? What has been the effect of a broken immigration system on those who legally want to enter the US?
As for the huge influx of immigrants who enter illegally, this is a problem that has affected the globe. Where people are pouring out of countries to find relief, political and economic problems are immense and unique and require unique solutions. It’s not a one size fits all answer. It is a gross political failure of our president, our secretary(ies) of state, and our Congress to have allowed us to get to this point. It is a tragedy of enormous proportions to have criminals coming in amongst these illegals. Many American lives have been lost.
As to wall building, you seem convinced that our government, that is, we the people, the taxpayers will pay for it. I challenge you: Get together with a group of friends and spend a few hours, or maybe you need a few days, brainstorming. Pretend you are a think tank. Devise three ways that a wall can be built, determine what it will it look like and, are you ready, tell us how Mexico WILL be the one to build it and pay for it. I look forward to seeing what you come up with. It can be done. If you succeed, I won’t then consider you amongst the confoundedly confused GOP and will call myself one.
I pour my faith into the idea that there are more Americans like you.
I believe there are many Americans like Prescient1. Most people I know absolutely concur with this description of the problem. Illegal immigration is not an intractable problem. It is mostly a political problem, arising from the fact that one party has a vested interest in illegal immigration status quo and has opposed the most straightforward solutions to the problem.
For example, we already have a wall, with physical borders, airborne surveillance, underground tunnel detection, border patrols, and much much more. The reason “the wall” is not effective is because we don’t enforce the laws; we just catch and release, don’t follow through on visa expiration, etc.. Of course “the wall” can be made better, but what we need more than anything is political leadership willing to address the problem seriously. When I hear Donald Trump talk about building the wall, I don’t have the slightest doubt he can do it, because it isn’t even a technically difficult thing to do. It is his willingness to fix the problem that is new and refreshing.
And, he actually talks about America and Americans rather than global socialism.